Table top structure for overbed tables



Jan. 31, 1956 H. M. BERNER EI'AL TABLE TOP STRUCTURE FOR OVERBED TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 17 1953 ATTORNEYS.

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I VVENTORS:

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent TABLE TOP STRUCTURE FOR OVERBED TABLES Harry M. Berner, Chicago, Ill., and Axel E. F. Johnson, Clarence W. Ensminger, and Kurt George Christian Savke, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to American Hospital Supply Corporation, Evanston, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 17, 1953, Serial No. 398,836

4 Claims. (Cl. 311-38) This invention relates to an overbed table structure, or the like. The invention is particularly useful in connection with a table equipped with a wash basin and with an adjustable cover therefor providing a mirror, book support, and other devices. The invention will obviously be applicable to other uses.

An object of the invention is to provide a base-equipped table having a cover therefor equipped with a mirror or support which may be moved to different angular positions while also folding inwardly to enable the cover to provide a flush top surface for the table when this is desired. A further object is to provide in such a structure means for releasably securing the cover in hinged position selectively at either side of the table. A still further object is to provide an overbed table which may be moved between spaced apart beds within a hospital room, or the like, so as to serve the occupant, the cover and mirror being adjustable to either side of the table so as to provide a mirror or support structure facing the occupant. Yet another object is to provide an overbed table structure equipped with a basin and a cover therefor, said cover providing a smooth top surface flush with the surface of the table when the cover is in lowered position, the cover serving to automatically raise a mirror into effective position for supporting the cover and maintaining the mirror at a desired angle, the cover being hinged selectively to either side of the table. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an overbed table embodying our invention; Fig. 2, a broken perspective view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the cover and mirror in raised position; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the cover and mirror moved to a different angular position; Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the mirror and cover separated from the table; Fig. 5, a bottom plan view; and Fig. 6, a vertical sectional view.

In the illustration given, a table is supported upon a standard 11 carried by a base leg 12 adapted to be extended under a bed. The base 12 is equipped with a laterally-extending shaft 13 equipped with rollers 14, and the inner end of the leg or beam 12 is also equipped with a roller 15. The table 10 is fixed to a screw-supported member (not shown) mounted within the standard 11 and engaging threads therein, whereby, upon rotation of the screw, the table 10 may be raised or lowered.

The present invention is concerned primarily with the table 10. As shown more clearly in Fig. 1, the table 10 is sectioned at an intermediate point to provide an intervening space 16. Below the cut-away area or space 16 extends a frame 17 which connects the segments of the table 10 and provides a support for receiving a wash basin 18. The frame 17 provides an upper ledge 19 on which a table cover 20 is adapted to rest when the cover is moved to lowered position.

The casing or frame 17 below the table portions 10 and connecting the same, provides on each side of the 'ice table and on each side of the space 16, metal loops or hinge supports 21 adapted to receive the pivot rods 22 carried by the cover 20. In Figs. 5 and 6, the pivot rods 22 are shown slidably mounted within the cover 20 and such rods are adapted to be supported within the hinge straps 21 mounted below the cover 20 on either side of the space 16. The rods 22 are provided at their inner ends with finger lugs 23 which are normally urged apart by a compression spring 24. When it is desired to retract the rods 22, the lugs 23 may be moved toward each other within a slot provided in the cover 20 so as thus to effect disengagement of the pins or rods 22 from the hinge straps 21.. The cover may then be moved to the opposite side of the table and the rods 22 may be allowed to expand into the spaced-apart hinge straps 21 supported at the opposite end of the table.

Below the upper surface 19 adapted to receive the bottom of the table cover 20, the frame 17 provides at a spaced distance therebelow, another track or ledge 25 adapted to support a mirror plate 26. As shown more clearly in Fig. 6, the mirror plate 26 may be formed of a metal frame member having a backing 27, a mirror 28 supported thereon, and a front panel 29 apertured to expose the mirror 28. Welded to the lower portion of the panel 29 is a support 30 useful as a means for supporting a book or other objects. The upper end of the mirror plate 26 is hinged by a pivot pin 31 to spaced brackets 32. We prefer to equip the bottom of the plate 26 with resilient pads or knobs 33 adapted to rest upon the ledge 25, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6. The resiliency of the rubber or other material causes the plate 26 to grip the surface 25 and thus to support firmly the cover 20 in any desired angular position upon the ledge 25.

Operation In the operation of the apparatus, when it is desired to use the table 10 as a continuous table surface, the cover 20 may be lowered to the position shown in Fig. 1, and in this position the mirror plate 26 rests upon the lower ledge 25 while the cover plate 20 rests upon the upper ledge 17 or 19. The cover 20 and mirror plate 26 may be moved rearwardly to the generally vertical position shown in Fig. 2, so that the wash basin 18 is unobstructed. When it is desired to use the mirror, the mirror plate 26 may be swung forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 or to other convenient angular positions and the engagement of the resilient knobs 33 with the lower ledge surface 25 maintains the parts 20 and 26 in the desired angular position. A reading book may be supported upon the ledge 30 and the angle of the book may be similarly adjusted by swinging the plate 26 forwardly or rearwardly.

If the overbed table is to be used by a patient at the opposite side of the room, the table may be swung directly toward the opposite bed and the cover 20 may be hingedly supported on the opposite side of the table, this operation being effected by retracting the hinge rods 22 by moving the lugs 23 toward each other, as shown in Fig. 5, and the rods may then be allowed to expand into the hinge straps 21 at the opposite side of the table. The depending portion of the cover 29 which extends rearwardly of the hinge rods 22 will engage the lower frame 17 and prevent the cover from tilting laterally of the table. The cover extension actually allows the cover and mirror plate 26 to be tilted slightly rearwardly so as to maintain these members in a generally vertical position and out of the way when the wash basin is being used. The upper end of the cover projecting beyond the hinge bracket 32 is useful in engaging the leaves of a book when the book support plate 26 is moved well forwardly, thus holding the leaves of the book in spread-apart position. Various other advantages of the support structure will appear.

While, in the foregoing specification, we have set forth a specific structure in considerable detail, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. A table structure having an intermediate transverse segment removed, a supporting frame below said table and having a pair of side portions connecting the table segments, said side portions of the frame each having a pair of hinge loops, and a detachable cover equipped with contractable hinge rods alternatively and selectively engageable with either pair of hinge loops for pivoting said cover for movement between a vertical and a horizontal position.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which said cover projects beyond said hinge loops and abuts one of the side portions of said frame when the cover is substantially in vertical position.

3. A table structure, comprising a segmented table body having an intermediate segment removed, a rigid frame below said table segments and connecting the same, said frame providing an upper transverse ledge and a lower transverse ledge and also providing a pair of hinge loops on each side of said table, a detachable cover equipped with retractable pivots selectively engageable with the hinge loops on either side of said table, said cover projecting laterally beyond said retractable pivots and said hinge loops to abut said frame when said cover is pivoted to substantially vertical position, and a plate hinged to the inner side of said cover and having a lower edge portion engageable with the lower transverse ledge of said frame for supporting said cover in different angular positions, said plate being foldable against said cover to permit said cover to swing to a position resting upon said upper ledge.

4. In a table top structure having a removed segment, a frame below said table top supporting the segments thereof in aligned position, a cover detachably mounted and pivotally supported for movement to a vertical position and to a horizontal position resting upon said frame, said cover being selectively mountable on either side of said frame for pivotal movement between horizontal and vertical positions, and a support plate pivotally mounted at its upper side to the underside of said cover and having a lower edge adapted to rest upon said frame in different angular positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 357,074 Fee Feb. 1, 1887 1,062,962 Gaal May 27, 1918 1,576,034 Butt Mar. 9, 1926 1,667,564 Pearson Apr. 24, 1928 2,013,542 Nordrnark Sept. 3, 1935 2,346,919 Hillenbrand Apr. 18, 1944 2,456,415 Hillenbrand Dec. 14, 1948 2,628,147 Berner Feb. 10, 1953 2,655,419 Achs Oct. 13, 1953 

